Austrian Pinscher
A sturdy Austrian farm dog: alert, playful and loyal, a natural watchdog with a strong rodent-catching instinct.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 44–50 cm · Females 42–48 cm
- Weight
- 12–18 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short, medium
- Colours
- Gold, Red, Fawn, Black and tan
- Bred for
- Guarding, Terrier work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Austria
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 64 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want an alert watchdog
- live rurally or with a garden
- enjoy active walks and play
Think twice if you …
- need a quiet dog
- have small pets
- live close to neighbours
Care
Temperament
Lively, playful and devoted to its people. It is a keen watchdog and wary of strangers. Its hunting instinct makes it likely to chase small animals.
Exercise
An hour or more of daily activity. Walks, scent work, agility and active games are good outlets.
Grooming
Brush the short to medium double coat weekly, more during seasonal shedding.
Training
Bright and willing but can be stubborn. Use reward-based training and work early on barking and recall.
Health
The breed is considered fairly robust; hip dysplasia and heart disease are the main reported concerns, and the small population makes genetic diversity important. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, heart and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Heart
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Austrian Pinscher descends from farm dogs of Austria, valued for guarding the yard, keeping rats and mice under control and accompanying the farmer. It was recognised as the Austrian Short-haired Pinscher in 1928 and later rebuilt from very few dogs.
It is lively and affectionate with family, alert to anything unusual and quick to bark. It is suspicious of strangers and keeps watch over its home. It needs daily exercise and something to do, and it suits an active household, ideally with a garden.
Did you know?
In Austria the breed is known as the Österreichischer Pinscher and was long kept as an all-round farm dog.